Swimming device



June 17, 1930. WILLIAMS- I 1,765,116

SWIMMING DEVICE Filed Jan. 30, 1950 WITNESSES 52% Q0. w W

ATTORN EY Patented June 17, 1930 UNITED STATES LINWOOD R. WILLIAMS, or on'nivennnw JERSEY SWIMMING nnvrcn 4 Application filed January 30, 1930. Serial No. 424,656.

This invention relates to a swimming device and it has among its: objects to provide a device by means of which persons not ex perienced in the art of swimming are enabled to keep afloat on the surface.

Another object of the invention is to increase the efficiency of swimming strokes thereby reducing the muscular force to be exerted by the swimming person.

A further object of the invention is to provide a manually operated paddle device of simple construction to be used as an aquatic,

' sporting and playing apparatus.

A still further object of the invention is to create a new and useful article'of manufacture, simple in construction and capable of being produced at low cost.

With these and other objects in view,- reference is had to the following specification and accompanying drawings in which there is exhibited one example and one modification of my invention which, however, is in no way intended as a limitation upon the scope of the appended claims, as it is to be clearly understood that other variations and modifications which properly fall within the scope of said claims may be resorted to when found expedient.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a side view of the invention showing the swimming device in an operative position;

Figure 2 is rear view of the device;

Figure 3 shows the device at two different operating positions; and

Figure 4 is a side view of the device showing a modified construction.

The swimming device consists of a rectangular plate 1 made of wood or any other suitable material and having beveled edges 2. Two angular members 3 and 4 are centrally attached to said plate 1 by'means of screws or in any other suitable manner. Hinged to said members 3 and 4 are two bars 5 and 6 carrying a handle 7 which is attached to said bars in a fixed position. The angular member 3 is at its free end laterally extended as shown at 8 in Fig. 2, the extended portion being provided with downwardly projecting flanges at its extreme ends. These flanges form abutments for the hinged'bar 6 thereby limiting the rocking or side motion of the handle 7 carried by the bars 5 and 6. It will be noted that the said bars 5 and 6 are bent at a certain angle as shown at 10 and 11 in Figs. 1 and 4 so as to place the plate 1' at an angle of about relative to the longitudinal axis of the handle 7. a r

Fig. 4 shows a modified form ofthe invention, the bars 5 and 6 being longitudinally extended beyond the points where the handle 7 is attached to them. The said extended portions are provided at their extreme ends with a wrist strap 12 which is fastened aroundextremities of the extended bars 5 and 6 and which is adapted to'be closed around the wrist by means of a buckle 14 or the like. The said wrist strap serves to form a close connection between the wrist of the swimmer and the apparatus, thereby facilitating the operation of the same. In order to'prevent the strap from slipping off said bars, the bar 5'is slightly curved outwardly at its free end. I

In theoperation of the device two identical apparatus of the above describedcharacter are employed, one for each hand. The swimmer grips the handle 7 and holds it in such a position that the apparatus is fully submerged and the handle 7 substantially in a vertical position, thereby placing automatically the plate 1 at its most effective angle or about 45 relative to the water level. Then the arms of the swimmer describe sidestrokes substantially in a horizontal plane thereby moving the two apparatus simultaneously from a starting or central position wherein the hands of the swimmer are closeto each other, to an outer position wherein thehands ofthe swimmer are spread furthest apart. After having reached the outer position the arms'of the swimmer are moved back to the central position and this mot-ion is repeated at regular intervals during the operation of the device. Due to the resistance offered by the water and furthermore due to the hinged connection of the plate 1 relative to the han dle 7 the said plate 1 will perform a rocking motion with respect to the handle 7 while the device is moved sidewise through the water. This rocking motion is controlled by the projecting flanges 9 of the extended portion 8 of the bar 6, the said flanges 9 limiting the said rocking motion to a predetermined range. Inasmuch as the plate 1 moves through the water under a certain angle during the operation of the device, the paddlelike action of the said'plate 1 is obtained which tends to keep the swimmer afloat on the surface. Persons experienced in the art of swimming may use the device in any position most fitting to their individual stroke, thereby increasing the eficiency of such stroke. 7

What I claim is:

1. A swimming device, comprising a plate two spaced angular supporting members attached to said plate, a pair of spaced supporting'elements pivotally attached'to said sup- 7 porting members, a handle fixed between said spaced supporting. elements at their free ends, and means to permit said plate to rock about said handle within a predetermined range. V I 2. A swimming device comprising a plate having beveled edges, two spaced supporting elements hinged to said plate, a handle fixed between said spaced supporting elements, means to hold said handle at a predetermined angle relative to said plate, and means permittingsaid plate to rock about said handle within a predetermined range.

, 3. A swimming device comprising a plate having beveled edges, two spaced supporting elements hinged to saidplate, a handle fixed between said supporting elements at their free ends, the said supporting elements being bent so as to extend in parallel directions in their straight sections, and means to permit said plate to rock about said handle within a predetermined range.

4. A swimming device comprising a plate, two angular supporting members attached to said plate, the said angular support ing members being laterally extended at their free ends, angularly projecting flanges at the extreme ends of one of said lateral portions, supporting elements pivotally attached to said angular supporting members, and a handle fixed between the free ends of said supporting elements, theisaid late being capable of rocking about said hane dle within a predetermined range.

5. A swimming device comprising a plate, two supportingmembers hinged to said plate, a handle fixed between said supporting members, a strap attachedto the free ends of said supporting members and adapted to enclose a the wrist of the swimmer, means to prevent mined range.

said strap from slipping off said supporting members, and means to permit said plate to rock about said handle within a predeter- LINWOOD R. WILLIAMS. 

